Provision of Safeguarding Training for both existing and new applicants of Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Licences

The Council's Licensing Team which is part of the Department of Resources and Regulation and is based at 3 Knowsley Place in Bury Town Centre, have a duty to use and enforce licensing legislation. Their aim is to ensure that all licensable operations relating to people, places and activities are safe and operate within the controls & limits imposed by the various licensing regimes.

In particular the service is responsible for the licensing of: • Public & private hire vehicles, drivers and operators Historical reports into Child Sexual Exploitation regarding safeguarding controls in taxi and private hire licensing, has led the Licensing Service to identify the need to review its own safeguarding arrangements. Although the current portfolio of procedures and policies is comprehensive, effective and robust, there is still room for improvement.

The proposed training aims to enable drivers to understand the need to protect vulnerable adults and children, identify possible victims of abuse and exploitation, understand things that could be identified as a risk, understand their own roles and responsibilities in relation to personal safety and identify where they can report any concerns. Private and public hire drivers play an important role in safeguarding the public.

It is for this reason that the Council believes that it is appropriate for all licensed drivers, and applicants wishing to be a licensed driver, to undertake basic safeguarding training. As part of this process the Council is now seeking to appoint a suitably qualified organisation to deliver a training package in relation to safeguarding, disability awareness, conflict resolution and driver conduct.

This training scheme will be aimed at: • All existing drivers who currently hold a Hackney Carriage/Private Hire licence. • Any new applicants seeking to become licensed Hackney Carriage/Private hire drivers The process will require that all existing licensed drivers to undertake the training within a prescribed time period that will be determined by the Council's Licensing and Safety Panel. As of 4th December 2018 the Council licences the following: • 1092 Private Hire Drivers • 104 Hackney Drivers As an indicative guide to future numbers of drivers between 1st April 2017 and the 31st March 2018 - 104 new applications were granted The contract is for the period 1st March 2019 to 31st March 2021. The closing time for expressing an interest in the opportunity via The Chest is 5.00 pm on Monday 7th January 2019 The closing time for completed tender submissions, via The Chest, is 12 noon on Friday 11th January 2019.